Heel and method of covering the same



Patented Juxie 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM. H. N'U'T'I, 01' BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T 'U'N'I'IEID SHOEMA- .of the heel.along the middle of GEINERY CORPORA'I'ION, O]? PATERSON',

N. A GORIORA'IION OF NEW JERSEY BEELAND METHOD O]? GOYIElRIN' G TEE SAME Application liled October 16 1929. Serial N0. 400,114.-

" This invehtion relates to improvements in heels of the-1type wherein a groove is provided in thebodyofthe heelto receive oneor more marginalportions of material employed to cover the heel, and to improVements in methods of covering heels.

In United States Letters Patent N0. 1,718,177, granted J une 18, 1929, 1ipon m y application there is disclosed a heel havmg: a Single straight groove extending heightwe its breast and providecl with a one-1iiece cover extending -around the rear, side and breast fabes of the heel and having its Opposite lateral margins tucked into and secred within the groove.

One object of the present invention is t0 provide an improved heel of the type above referred to in which rovision is made for facilitating the Operation of tucking the cor er marginsinto the groove without risk of 111- juring the cover and for insuring that the portions of the cover which eXtencl into the groove shall fittherein in such a manner as to form an exceptionally tight joint.

With this object in view and in accordance with one feature 0f the invention there has been provided a heel havinga groove therein for receiving a marginal portion0f heel covering material applied to the heel, said groove being formed with an outwardlyyielding side Wall constructed and arranged to facilitate the tucking of said portion of the heel covering material into the groove.

In one embodiment of the invention herein illustrated a single strziight groove is formed inthe middle of the breast of a heel to receive the opposite lateral margins of a one-piece cover extending around the rear, side and breast surfaces of the heel and both side Walls of the groove are made yielding by the provis1on of additional grooves arrangedone closece1ving silient strips of mater1al at euch side of the ly adjacent to each side Wall of the cover-regroove to provide relatively thin relatter capable of yielding outwardly to per- I'nit expans'ion of the cover-receiving groove, and thereby to facilitate the tucking of the cover margins therein, and tending thereafter to return to normal Position after the tucking operation has been complete'd und the grooVe,

tucking implement and firmly to secure the cover margins thereinand provide an exceptionally tight joint between the1n. Considered in another aspect, therefore, invention is to be reeognized in a heel having an expansihle groove therein, and a piece of covering lnaterial on the heel l1aving a inarginal portion tucked into and secured within the expansible groove. v

In its method aspect the invention comprises applying a cover member to a heel having an expansible groove therein.- eixpanding and tucking a marginal portion of the cover member into the groove, while the latter is expanded, thereby insuring that the marginal portion of the cover member will be firmly held in the groove.

In covering a heel having a groove for receiving one or more cover margins and having also one or more additional grooves arranged to permit expansion of the cover-re cei ving groove, as herein illustrated, the ad: ditional grooveor grooves are convehiently, in accordance With another feature of the invention, employed as gaging means during the trinnning of the cover margins to locate the trimming cuts so as to provide. the desired amount of surplus for tucking into the coverreceiving groove.

The provision of one o1 more grooves arranged to perm1t expansmn of a cover-rece1V- 1ng groove in a heel makes it practicable in covering the heel to lay two cover margins in overlapping relation with the overlapped portions of the cover margins overlying the "grooves and tucking the overlapped cover it agpears after a cover has been applied to the eel;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an uncovered heel showing a modification of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the modified heel shown in Fig. 7 illnstrating the method of trimming the cover margins preparatory to tucking them into the grooves in the heel breast; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the modified heel showing the heel as it appears after it has been covered.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, a wooden Cuban heel H is provided wi-th a straight groove 10 which extends heightwise cf the heel along the middle' cf the breas't face 12 and which is formed with yielding resilient side walls thereby permitting widthwise expansion und contraction 0 the groove. As shown, the side Walls of the groove 10 are made resilient by the formation in the heel breast of two additional grooves 14 a nd 16 which are similar to the groove 10 and a1e arranged closely adjacent und parallel to the latter so as toform thin strips 13 of heel materiz'zl at ea :h side of the groove 10. ceive the opposite end portions 18, 18 of a one-pice cover 20 which extends around the rear, side und breast faces of the-heel. The grooves l4 and 16 are niade close enough to the groove 10 to lessen materially theresistance offere l by the side WlllS of the groovka 10 to the introduction of a tucking implement into the groove and thus to permit the side walls 0f the groom to yield outwardly, as g shown in Fig. 5, to allow for the thickness of the tucking implement und thns to facilitate the tuc-king in of the cover margins. The outwardyielding of the side Walls of the groove 10, in addition to making it easier to posicions, as shown in verse slits 15 which .enter which define the opposite side Walls tuck the cover maigins into the groove, will also insure against any injury to the Cover by means of the tucking implement. Furtherxhore, inasmuch as the narrow strips of material between the groove 10 ancl the grooves 14 and 16 a1e necessarily put under tension, as shown in Fig. 5, by the action of the tucking tool these strips will, upon the withclrawal of the tool, resume their original Fig. 6, closing up the gap betwee n the marg1ns cf the covering and thus securely holding the covcr margins in place and producing a tight joint Where they the groove 10. As shown, the strips 13 of the groove 10 areprovided with aseries of transfacilitate yielding of the side walls of the groove.

In covering a heel of the type shown in Fig. 1 a one-piece cover, such as the cover 20,1s applied to the rear and side faces 0f the heel with the end portions 22 ancl 24 extending beyond the breast corners of the heel. One

The groove 10 is adapted to re-.

- 16 being displaced of the end portions, for example, the por- -ti0n 22, is first laid against the heel breast with its margin extending across all of the grooves 10, 14 and 16. While the end portion 22 remains in this position its lateral edge is trimmed by means of a s 1 1i tglgle trimming tool, such as the knife 26 (Figl 2), while the groove 14 is utilized as a gage to locate the tri1nming cut so that the proper amount of surplus will be provided at the edge of the cover portion 22 for tucking into the groove 10. As shown in Fig. 2 the gaging of the trimming cu-t is efiected by projecting the f knife cooperates with one of the side walls of the groove to trim the cover margin by a shearing action. After the cover portion 22 has been laid und trimmed as abow7e described, it is stripped from the grooved portion of the h eel bfeast und temporarily turned backwardly, as indicated at 28 in Fig. 3. Thereafter the opposite end ortion 24 of thecover is laid against the heel braust in posi'tin to overlap all three of the grooves, as shown in Fig'. 3. \The portion 24 of the cover is thcn trimmed by the trimming knife 26 while the groove 16 is utilized in gaging the trimming cut. T0 this end, the knife 26 is proj6cted into the groove 16 und drawn lengthwise of the groove across thatpart of the cover roove, thereby trimming the cover portion 24 along the line of the groove 16 ancl allowing a surplus for tucking into the groove 10 of the same wid-th as the surplus previously allowed 011 the cover portion 28 for tucking into the groove 10. Both cover margins having been trimme d as described, the first portion 24 which overlies the trimmed margin. 22 is superposed upon the last trimmed marg1n 24, as shown in Fig. 4. The overlapped cover margins 22 and 24 are then tucked into the groo ve 10 by means of a tucking tool, such as the tucking blade 30 shown in Figs. 4 anal 5, the tucking blacle being merely brought into engagement with the overlapped cover margins above the groove 10 and forcecl downwardly in-to the groove carrying the cover margins with it. As shown in Fig. 5, the opposite side walls 0f the groove 10 will yield outwardly as the tucking blade 30, together with the cover margins 22 und 24, enter the groove 10, the narrow portions of the heel b@ tween the middle groove 10 ai1d the outer grooves 14 und outwardly, as indicated in Fig'. 5, to accommodate the thickness of the tucking blade and the cover margins. Upon withdrawal of the tucking blade 30 the resilience of the displaced portions 0f the heel at opposite sides cf the groove 10 will cause them to return to their normal positions, thereby closing up the space formerly occupied by the tucking tool and Providing the desired tight joint betweentl1e tucked-in cover margins, as shown in Fig. 6.

In the heels shown in Figs. 1 t0 6, inelusive, two grooves lmve been provided in addition"to the groove r'or reveiving the cover margins for permitting expansioil of the center groove, bat it will be appar ent that the groove will be permitted t0 expand if only one of its side Walls is made yielding by the presence of only a single additional groove beside the cover-receiving groove. A constrnction in which only one additional groove is provided adjacent t0 a cover-receiving groove is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, wherein the invention is shown as en1bodied in a heel of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent N0. 1,704204, granted March 5, 1929 upon application of the present inventor. The heel shown in Figs. 7 to 9 is characterized by having a groove 32 located adjaeent t0 each lateral edge of the heel breast for the reception of the end portions of a side covering 34 (F ig. 9) and also the lateral margins of a separate covering 36 for the heel breast. As shown in these figures, the inner side Walls of the grooves 32 are made yielding by the provision adjacent to each of said side Wall of a second groove 38 which is parallel to the respective groove 32.

In covering a heel of the type shown in Figs. 7 to 9, the side covering 34 is wrapped around the rear and sides 0f the heel and the end portions 40 of the cover are laid over the grooved lateral margins of the heel breast after which they are trimmed by means of a trimrning tool, as illustrated at 41 in Fig. 8, the trimming tool heilig guided by. the inner grooves 38 so that the desired amount ofsurplus will be provided for tucking into the grooves 32. The trimmed edges of the cover 34 are, then tueke'ad into the grooves 32 after which the breast cover 36 is applied, the edges trimmed if necessary and then tucked into the grooves 32 beside the tucked-in portions of the cover 34. The presen'ce of the grooves 38 permits expansion 0f the grooves 32 t0 lacilitate the tucking in of the cover mari ns and subsequent contra etion of the grooves 32 t0 facilitate the prodnction of tight joints betweenthe tucked-in portions of the side and breast coveririgs. The grooves 32 and 38 are eurved to corres'pond to the c'urvature of the lateral edges of the heel breast and the thin strips 42 formed between these grooves are similarly cur ved and in Order to insure that the curved strips 42 shall be sufliciently yielding and resilient to facilitate the tucking of the. cover margins into the grooves 32 the strips 42 hav e a series of transverse slits (Fig. 7) formed therein. These slits 44, Which extend throughout the width of the strips 42,

5 facilitate yielding of the strips 42 and make tion extending into it practieal to produce tight j oints between the adjacent tucked-in cover margins even though the thin strips 42 are curved lengthwise to a constructed and arranged 130 facilitate the tu'eking of Said portion of the heel covering material into the groove.

2. A heel having a groove therein to receive a marginal portion of heel covering material applied 150 the heel, said groove having its opposite sidewalls resilient to permit Width- W1se expansion and contraction of the groove to faeilitate the securin}; 0f one or more marg1nal poriuons of sa1d heel covering material v there1n.

Aheel having a groom therein to re- Ce1ve a marginal portion of' heel covering material applied to the heel, and a second groove arranged closely adjacent to one of the side Walls'of the first groove to permit substantial yielding of said side Wall to facilitate tucking of.said marginal cover portion into said first groove.

4. A heel having a groove therein to re-. ceive a marginal portion of heel covering material applied to the heel, and additional grooves arranged one adjacent t0 eaCh of the. side Walls of the first groove to permit sub stantial yielding of said side Walls to facilitate tucking of said marginal cover portion into thefirst-mentioned groove.

5. A heel having three grooves extending heightwise of the heel along the middle por tion of the heel breast, and a one-piece covering extending around the rear, side and breast faees of the heel and having its opposite end portions received in the middle groove.

6. A heel having two parallel grooves.extending heightwise of the heel in closely adjacent relation, and a one-piece cover extending aroundthe heel{and hav ing its opposite end portiong tucked into one of said grooves.

7. A heel having a groove extending heightwise thereof, and a second groove. arriii1ged cl0sely adjzcent'to one of the side Walls 0f the first groove to permit substantial yielding of said side all, and a covering for the portion of the heel adja'eent to said grooves, tlwcovering extendingacross the mouth of the second grooVe and having a marginal porthe first groove. covering a heel having an therein which comprises 8. The method of expansible groove deteimined amount of a g1oove therein to receive applying a cover memb er t o the h eel expanding the groove, and tuokmg sa1d margmal portion of the cover member into sa1d groove while the latter is expanded.

9. The method of covering a heei having an expansible groove therein which comprises applying a covering to the heel with opposite marg1nal portions of the covermg overlapping and overl ing said groove, expanding the groove, an simultaneously tuck- 1ng said over apping marginal port1ons of the coverin into the expanded groove.

10. he method of covering a heel having an expansible groove therein which comprises applying a covering to the heel wath opposite margmal portins of the covermg overlapping and overlying said groove, and simultaneously expanding the groove and tucking both said marginal portions of the covering into the groove.

11. The method of covering' a heel having a grooVe therein to receive one marginal portion of a heel Cover member, and a second groove closel adjacent to the first groove whioh compnses applying a coveringto the heel with one marginal portion oij. the cm{er ing overlying both of said grooves, and tr1mming said cover margin while utilizi ng s a1d second groove as a gage to locate the trnnm1ng cut to provide a predetenhined amount of surplus for tucking into said first groove.

12. The method of covering a heel having the marginal portions of a heel cover member, and two addi-. tional grooves arranged one closely adjacent to' each side wall of the first groove Whioh comprises applying to the rear and sides of the heel a oovering having opposite end portions extending bayond the brast cornersof the heel, laying one of said and portions against theheel bieast and across all of said grooves, utilizing one of said additional grooves as a ga'e in trimming said Cover margin to provi e a predetermined surplus for tucking into the first groove, stripping said trinimed cover margin from the grooved portion of the heel breast and laying the opposite cover margin against the breast and across all of said grooves, trimming said lastmentioned oover margin to provide a presurplus for tucking into the middle groove, and thereafter tucking both of said cover margins into said middle roove.

13. The method 0i covering a heel having a groove therein to receive one marginal portion of a heel covering, and a second groove closely adjacent and parallel t0 the first groove which comprises applying a covering to the heel with one marginal portion of the covering overlying both of said grooves, and trimming the covering to provide sufiicient surplus for tucking into the first groove by drawing a cutter along the second groove and across the portion of the covering which overlies said groove.

14. The method of covering a heel having a groove therein to receive one marginal portion oi: a heel covering, and a second groove closely adjacent and parallel to the first gro0ve which comprises applying a covering to the he'el with one marginal portion of the covering overlying both of said grooves, and utilizing a cutter' in co-operation with one ed e of the second groove to trim the cover by a s 1earing action to provide s ulficient surplus for tucking into the first groove.

15. The method of oovering a heel having a groove therein to receive one marginal portion of a heel covering, and two addition a1 grooves arranged one closely adjacent t0 each side Wall of the first groove which consists in applying a .cox*ering to the heel with one and portion of the covering overlying all of said grooves, utilizing a cutter in cooperation with one of said additional grooves to tr".m said marginal portion of the covering 120 provide suflicient surplus fortuckinginto the first groove, removing said trimmed portion of the eover from engagement Witl1 the surface of the heel in the vicinity of the grooves, laying the opposite and portion of the cover against the heel surface in position tooverlie all of said grooves, utilizing a cutter in oo-operation with the other of said additional grooves to trim said marginal ortion of the cover to provide suflicient surplus for tucking into the first groove, and tucking both of said trimmad marginal portions into said first groove.

- 16. The method of covering a heel having a groove therein to receive one marginal portion of a heel covering, and two additional grooves arranged one closely adjacent to each side Wall of the first groove which comsists in applying a covering to the heel with one marginal portipn 015 the covering overlying all of said groovesutilizing a entter in 'cooperation with one of said additional grooves t0 trim said marginal portion of the covering to provide sufiicient Surplus for tucking into the first grooveremoving said trimmed portion of the cover from engagement with the surface of the heel in the vicinity of the grooves, laying the opposite and ortion 0f the cover against the heel surfaco 1n positi on to overlie all of said grooves, utiliz1ng; a cutter in co-operation with the other of said additional grooves to trim said marginal portion of theover to provide sufficient surplus for tucking into the first groove, laying the first trimmed and portion of the cover over the last trimmed end portion, and simultaneously tuoking both said margina portions of the cover into the first groove.

17. The method of covering a heel having a groove therein to receive the opposite end portions of the covor, and two additional grooves arranged one closely adjacent to each ..ceive a marginal portion 01E 'heel covering material appliedto i:he heel and ha.ving a.

name to th1s spec1ficat1on.

WILLIAM H. NUT1.

sid a wall of the first groove which comprises .laymg one end ortion of the cover against the heel in posation to overlie' all of said grooves, laying the opposite end Portion of the cover over the first end port1on in position to overlie all of said grooves, and tucking said overlapped end porti0ns into the first groove by as1ngle operation of a tucking tool. 4

18. A heeI having a groove thereintdresecond groove arranged closely. adj acent to the first groove thus forming athin strip of hel material between the grooves, said stri being provided with transverse slits arrange to facilitate yielding 0f the strip to permit expansion a nd contraq'tion of the.first-mentioned groove.

In testimony whereof I have signgd my 

